If, Bwana is the pseudonym of

noise music Noise music is a genre of music that is characterised by the expressive use of noise. This type of music tends to challenge the distinction that is made in conventional musical practices between musical and non-musical sound. Noise music include ...

artist Alan M. Margolis.

History

Al Margolis has been working under the musical pseudonym If, Bwana since New Year's Day 1984. The moniker is an acronym for "It's Funny, But We Are Not Amused." He has since earned an international reputation for his experimental

Recording history

If, Bwana music is a fusion of

ambient Ambient or ambiance or ambience may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Ambiancé'', an unreleased experimental film * ''Ambient'' (novel), a novel by Jack Womack Music and sound * Ambience (sound recording), also known as atmospheres or backgr ...

, industrial, and

musique concrète Musique concrète (; ): " problem for any translator of an academic work in French is that the language is relatively abstract and theoretical compared to English; one might even say that the mode of thinking itself tends to be more schematic ...

sounds, often featuring strange

soundscape A soundscape is the acoustic environment as perceived by humans, in context. The term, originally coined by Michael Southworth, was popularized by R. Murray Schafer. There is a varied history of the use of soundscape depending on discipline, ...

s that are both balmy and unnerving at the same time. Margolis has also been very active as the owner of two prolific labels, the cassette label

Sound of Pig Sound of Pig was a cassette culture label started in 1984 by Al Margolis in New York City. The label released hundreds of original cassettes between 1984 and 1990. It featured Margolis' own audio art projects that he recorded under the name of ...

and, since the 1990s, Pogus Productions, a CD label with a focus on experimental contemporary classical music.http://www.pogus.com/ Pogus Productions

References

Paul Hegarty Paul Anthony Hegarty (born 25 July 1954) is a Scottish football player and manager. He was captain of Dundee United during their most successful era in the 1970s and 1980s, winning the Scottish league championship in 1983 and the Scottish Le ...

, ''Noise/Music: A History'' (2007) Continuum International Publishing Group *

Thurston Moore Thurston Joseph Moore (born July 25, 1958) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter best known as a member of the rock band Sonic Youth. He has also participated in many solo and group collaborations outside Sonic Youth, as well as running ...

, ''Mix Tape: The Art of Cassette Culture'' (2004) Universe

Footnotes

{{DEFAULTSORT:If, Bwana Cassette culture 1970s–1990s Living people American experimental musicians American noise musicians Year of birth missing (living people)

History

Recording history

See also

References

Footnotes